Antiskid-chain tool



D. c". WOODWORTH ANTISKID CHAIN TOOL Filed April 17. 1922 Patented May 20, 1924.

DONALD C. WOODWOR-TH, AUBURN, MAINE.

nNrIsKIn-oHA-m TOOL.

atp'plication .filed April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,941.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD C. Wool)- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AntiskidCl1ain Tools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the tools of this sort which are described in U. S. Patent No. 1,338,804 which was issued to me on the fourth of May, 1920. In the use of tools made in accordance with the specification of the above patent, it is found that when they are properly proportioned for opening the smaller sizes of fastening links, they are unsuitable for opening links that are either very much longer or very much stiffer.

The object of my invention is to provide a tool which is equally well adapted to opening widely differing sizes of links.

To attain this object, I provide as hereinafter specified, new means of attachment for different sizes of links. I rearrange the parts so as to give a greatly increased leverage for the same size of tool; and I provide for a new mode of operation which divides the opening of the larger sizes of links into two or more steps. In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 1s a perspective of the tool with a completely opened link attached.

Fig. 2 shows the tool ready for closing a link.

Fig. 3 shows the opening of a long link. i

In these figures, 1 and 2 are the two pivotally connected, handled members which make up the tool. 3 and 1 are the opening hooks projecting from'the side of the memher 1. 5 is an opening wedge projecting leverage of the device.

from the upper end of the member 2. 6 is the pivot on which the members 1 and 2 turn. 7 is a closing jaw projecting from the side of the member 2. 8 is a corresponding jaw projecting from the side of the menr ber 1. By placing the closing jaws at the sides of the members 1 and 2, I make it possible to bring the opening wedge 5 much more nearly in line with the pivot and opening hook, and thereby greatly increase the 9 is the link to be opened and closed; 10 is another chain link.

When I wish to make use of my invention for openingfone of the smaller sizes of the links 9, I hook it over the opening wedge 5 at the end of the member 2 and pull apart the handle ends of 1 and 2 until the loop end of the link 9 will slip over the opening hook 3, I then press together the handle ends of 1 and 2 until the link is fully opened.

The range of motion of the members 1 and 2, when grasped by the hand, is suflicient to provide for opening the smaller sizes. If bringing 1 and 2 into the position of Fig. 1 does not fully open the link 9 I pull the handle ends of the members 1 and 2 apart, and hook the link over the hook 4. If closing the handle ends of the tool still fails to fully open the link 9, I-

pull them apart again and slip the link 10 between 4 and 9 as shown in Fig. 3, and repeat the compression of the handles.

As, in this way of working, the handle ends of 1 and 2 are never spread far apart, they have at all times a great leverage and will pry open links that would prove too stiff if the members 1 and 2 made a wide angle with each other.

If it is desired to extend the range of the device, one or more opening hooks may be added below the hooks 3 and 4; but the device as shown will cover a wide range.

The device as shown is properly proportioned for the work specified, but it is also usable and will beused as an ordinary pair of pliers. I therefore out sharp teeth in the jaws 7 and 8 and give them greater hardness and the tool greater strength than would otherwise be necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a tool for opening the fastening links of antiskid-chains, the combination with a pair of pivotally connected members, of an opening wedge projecting from the working end of one of the members, and a plurality of opening hooks on the handle end of the other member, which are spaced at distances from the wedge corresponding to the different lengths of fastening links.

2. In a tool for opening and closing the fastening links of antiskid-chains, a pair of pivotally connected members, a pair of closing jaws which are bent in the same direction and have their line of action at the side of the tool, an opening wedge at the end of one member and an opening hook which projects from the handle of the other member, all combined with each other for the purpose specified.

3. In an antiskid-chain tool which has a pair of pivotally connected handled members, an opening Wedge on one member, an opening hook on the other member which is spaced at a distance from the Wedge corresponding to a partial opening of the link, and a second opening hook spaced at a greater distance from the Wedge; all comlined with each other for the purpose speci- In testiznnoy whereof I aifix my signa- CARL F. GETOHELL, VERA F. VOTER. 

